Re:Attention, Shoppers: Store Is Tracking Your Cell
by superuser2 on Tuesday July 16, 2013 @12:16AM
(#6050001)
APBs existed before ANPR. It's pretty well known that police who are driving around also have their eyes open for known fugitives, stolen cars, etc. There has to be a reason for an ANPR read of your car to actually do anything.
Making that electronic lets the cop focus on driving and increases the maximum number of cars he can be looking for.
I'm less certain that "society is in agreement" with police ANPR systems hoovering up ~1000 number plate records per shift without any "probably cause" and archiving that time/location data permanently. I know it's happening - but mostly because people don't know about it, rather than because most people think it's OK…